Woman charged $50,000 for ‘free’ solar panels can ‘breathe’ again after being offered refund
Topics: US News, Money, Mental Health
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/FOX 26 Houston
Topics: US News, Money, Mental Health
An elderly woman has spoken out in relief after having her bill for $50,000 solar panels wiped, initially told she'd receive them for free.
Gloria Combs, from Sunnyside, Houston, was allegedly told by a sales representative for SunRun Solar Panel Company she was eligible to receive solar panels for her house for free, as a part of a government-led program.
Alas, after the devices - which convert sunlight into electricity - were installed on top of her home, the 77-year-old double amputee was slapped with a whopping $50,000 bill.
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Combs had reportedly been told by a representative from SunRun the panels would be 'free' because they were being provided 'through the government'.
However, she later received a bill from SunRun, telling her to pay the $50,000 back over 25 years.
"Ain't no way I would have agreed to that. It's a nightmare. It really is. I've got to go out and find me two jobs, three if necessary. I can't pay no $50,000," she told Fox 26 Houston.
The US Department of Energy's website states: "The Department of Energy is aware of claims of offers for free solar panels... the federal government does not offer programs for free home solar panels."
Combs added: "[...] I know it's a lot of scams going around, but sometimes you've got to believe somebody, and I believed her. I really did."
Combs said she was left unable to eat or sleep after receiving the hefty bill.
She added: "Every time I turn around I'm crying. I try to be out of my house as much as possible, so I can stop thinking about it."
Thankfully, the situation has since been resolved, with SunRun noting the sales representative who told Combs the panels would be free was not a direct employee and has since been fired.
After SunRun was contacted by Fox 26 Houston, the company told Combs she could keep the panels for free and set about refunding her for the money she's already paid towards the panels - $215 per month since March 2023.
Vice President of the CX Solutions Department for SunRun Jennifer Wilson said: "We take these things very seriously and my reaction is we need to make it right.
"We're never happy to hear our product being misrepresented to anybody because our system should have benefits for our customers that they could be excited about."
Combs resolved: "I can breathe. I can sleep. I can eat and I can stop being so sad."
UNILAD has contacted SunRun for comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
You can also call 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 at the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline.